legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jə-ˌslā-chər 

also ˌle-jə-ˈslā-

British often ˈle-jə-slə-chə

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit

Examples of legislature in a Sentence

Our legislature passed a law requiring people to wear safety belts.

Each state has its own legislature.

Recent Examples on the Web

Harrisburg currently has a Democratic House and a Republican Senate, and the legislature has passed bipartisan changes to the election code after extensive input from county governments. — Reid Ribble, Time, 8 July 2026

State legislatures are out of their respective sessions for 2026, as their members campaign for reelection. — Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Nearby, the historic Walloomsac Inn, long-ago used by Vermont's pre-statehood legislature, is being reimagined by Litchfield, Connecticut, hospitality business Place in Mind. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026

Philip Frasica, a policy organizer at Renew Missouri, urged the legislature to take separate approaches to zoning for BESS sites and data centers. — Ilana Arougheti july 7, Kansas City Star, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for legislature

• nomenclature
• nature

Kids Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈlej-ə-ˌslā-chər 

: an organized body of persons having the authority to make laws

Legal Definition

legislature

noun

leg·​is·​la·​ture ˈle-jəs-ˌlā-chər, -ˌchu̇r 

: a body of persons having the power to legislate

specifically : an organized body having the authority to make laws for a political unit (as a nation or state) compare executive, judiciary